#BraidsGang How I force myself to save money

PLAITING COSTS SO MUCH MONEY…the typical working woman gets her hair plaited every month with extensions or chemical treatments.

This cost money, keeping up appearances…when I joined that stream of hair obsessies my hairline and hair length suffers. So saving money is already part of the 2016 drill.

I was always a fan for plaiting myself braids with my hair…but until I hit for carnival I had never plaited my own braids with extensions. The first time I rocked it like a bawse because I had to…it was hideous when people looked closer

This is my afro, during a wash and go with conditioner

Vicfalls braids…worked for tourists, first time I did my hair to afford holiday and survive January disease. The workmanship was sloppy but had to be done.

I know myself, I look good in box braids, chunky dreads would have worked but hey…

I had a weave in my hair, and I know it was a bad idea to let those hair assistants wash and undo my hair with the cheap dishwasher pretending to be shampoo…my hair was cut at the temple…is that the top part.

My coworker saw this hair, he was like…no this isnt how you roll, go get some health in that hair…I agreed the unhealthy hair look was not cool.

So I walked into a store and got cheap braids, 5 dollars for 5 packets and I chose the maroon hair to distract the randomness of my hair. I needed to save money and avoid a catastrophe that hair dressers do.

Usually box braids in a salon are many and not like a juvenile hairstyle…but because I am ME I made my boxes thick.

As I trimmed hair damaged ends and plaited the braids…

Mid plaiting, I start with the back

After 3 hours or 4, I was done enough to go sleep…they still needed perfecting the ends

The outcome…money saved

xoxo

Happy Day!

Watch me whip…watch me nae nae

#BlackHair Complex: Let’s Talk African Hair Politics Part I

I tried transitioning and this year after almost giving up, my hair fell out… I think it’s because of a skin irritation but my hair was like “BYE”, at least the relaxed ends could not deal. Now I have an Afro… and I am not loving the shrinkage. I am so afraid of getting it photographed and am thinking how my one inch fro’ is going to look descent… and I am thinking about it often. And yet I see this great appreciation for hair, as people cut their hair, post on instagram I am busy worrying thinking, NDOITA SEI? What shall I do?

Now here is the thing, my hair and generally the black hair community is becoming a problem for me. They are confusing my once confident hair choices politicizing, and making them scientific with a touch of genetics per tribal origin.

Being a Kerry Washington fan, around the time I watched DJANGO and got the Kerry Washington ARISE Magazine copy, I wondered why I was looking at her hair texture liking its natural state. Then I figured I was a victim of internet polluting my thoughts.[Damn you social media!]

1. Gazilion of Blogs and Products in stores for #TeamNatural

Hair companies are flooding the market with new products which are free of some chemicals, MIZANI coming in as a tactic for L’OREAL to rake in that natural hair money. MIZANI still has hair advertisements using hair pieces and the  hair bloggers springing up. Bloggers have become oil gurus with regimes of all sorts as women join forums and challenges to grow their hair long, buying all of them oils and creating hair potions.

2. While somewhere back in Zimbabwe…

Weave sellers are ample!  People selling hair on Facebook groups, Instagramming their bundles of weaves… [and have they forgotten the Kenyan horror story on the dead corpse hair that killed women in Kenya and gave some serious illness]. STILL the masses have resorted to selling these bundles of (Wait while we take a trip around the world): Indian, Brazilian, Mongolian, Malaysian, Chinese, Peruvian..and now on Instagram there’s Russian. All I want to know is.

WHAT’S THE FRIGGIN MATTER WITH US???!!!

xoxo

Robin

SUMMER Braids Hair Care #PROTECTIVESTYLING

Summer is here and for some climates winter creeps up the one day. It’s exam season for board exam professionals and crunch time for those in school. BRAIDS MAKE THINGS BETTER!

Make sure that your hairline is safe from the heavy gripping braids. After recovering from castor oil treatment do not plait it with a heavy braid.

MAINTENANCE
Take care of your hair by oiling your scalp with light natural oils. Do not put heavy butters or grease as they form knots that will cause hair breakage.

Main ingredient is coconut oil because it helps strengthen hair and absorbs easily in hair. Adding other oils helps it get softer. Castor Oil helps hair thickness and Avocado Oil helps soften hair.

MIXTURE = COCONUT OIL  + FEW DROPS CASTOR OIL + FEW DROPS OF AVOCADO OIL.

Also applicable on cornrows.

Peace and Harmony♡♡
Robin

Posted from the ♡♡♡

In the pursuit of Hair-ppiness

Harare, Zimbabwe – After having to get my hair plaited for about a year as it is slowly regrowing, I noticed the variations of possible hairstyles for the festive season aka PARTY season, coming up. This is for every varying budget. For hairstylists, visit my Fashion Stockist tab, under Stylists.

1. Cornrows

Lines are always easier because they can easily be installed and removed when the time has come to get the hair out. However they can damage hairline when the lines are too small or when the person plaiting has no concern whatsoever of the health of your hair (the ZFW cornrows  ruined my hairline).

2012: Cornrows Hairstyle with box braids in the back. Used Angels Avvis Short in colour 33, very light fibre that comes out well.

Angels Avvis Short: Outre in town, cost per packet $1.00. Cornrows installment: $10.00 maximum

2. Box Braids/Ma”Shabba”

I got this hairstyle in December just after I got my hair chopped off. I loved the retro feel and length of the braids. They made me look young and fresh everyday. As my usual colour is number 33, I got it and added number 6 of Ebony Yaki Braid to get the retro look. One disadvantage was tying hair to sleep or shower; total nightmare because they were heavy. Mine were bulky so that high-pony look was never an option.

2012 January – off to a date and all I could do was a side swept look.

Ebony Yaki Braid (Outre shop) $1.50 (I used 8 and half): Installment: negotiable, for me $30.00

3. Human Hair Weave

Now when they say “Human Hair” it is not always 100 percent, if ever, human hair. The ones you get in weave shops under brand names like Sensationnel, Ebony etc are the affordable types of human hair weaves. These are available any part of time. My weave of this type is Ebony, my hair being brown the number 4 colour blended well.

The texture of Ebony is top-notch in terms of blending when ironed well it looks so great. However disadvantage was the shedding and tangling it incurs. I had weave-alopecia from all the shedding.I could only use it once, because of the ends. There has been a lot of anti-weave movements from Zimbabwean men, which does not even phase me! Weave it girl!

2011 – Me (right) in a weave with hair left at hairline and parting.

Ebony Human Hair (Outre shop) – variable prices at most 40 dollars 2 pkts. Installment: $15.00

2012: Human Hair did me wrong in  Malaysia..nappy!! Yes..I had make up on that day..no really believe me!

4. Bulky Braids

I got bulky braids recently inspired by Solange. I got soft dread by Darling in blonde and number 33. Two packets are enough and leaves some braid out. I liked the hairstyle, it really had so much character and people loved the look on me. However it is a bad idea in this weather it gets rather sweaty and in the way, it will be great for people with thinner hair than mine. Also using braid spray is important to keep scalp moisturizer.

2012: Tendy Kamusikiri, Farai Simoyi and Me at the Farai by Farai Simoyi launch. I had bulky braids.

Darling Soft Dread: $4.00 to $6.00 Installment: start at $20.00

4. Remi Premium Hair (Real Hair)

So of all the hairstyles I have not tried the Remi superior hair that I heard cost 100s of dollars. The main reason was the fear that with my record of ruining hair, I would have wasted my money. OK the truth is I was busy spending my intern salary on shoes, so I could never afford anyway. The market was flooded with Brazilian, Indian Remi, Peruvian, Malaysian, I had no clue what to even get. As well as the hair care products for such hair was vague from sellers.

ECloset263  an online shop that sells clothing/shoes and HAIR has sponsored me Two bundles of Brazilian hair, which is great because my hair texture is a bit rough like Brazilian Hair. ECloset263 also has gone the extra mile in giving me silicone spray AND a satin pillowcase to help with the maintenance. Amazing news so you can order hair as well as the accessories to use on the weave from ECloset263!!

My Hits/Misses in hair

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

robin xxx

Trey Songz

“Heart Attack” – Trey Songz featuring Kelly Rowland in his music video

 

I love the fashion and romance in this video. I actually think Love does feel like a heart attack, I agree with Trey Songz completely. I am definitely a Libra, in love with the idea of being in love. Its even cool how she is dressed so fashionably too with big hair. It’s important to look fabulous when you are in love because it just looks even cuter when you both look cute. Okay I can’t stop gushing at this picture

Soft Dread braids can get this look for hair. I have an instant weave with big poofy hair like this too.

xxx

robin

 

 

 

Am in Love… with this song 😉

Castor Oil: Black Hair regime

I follow Aphro Phro the hair consultant from Zimbabwe based in Melbourne. She also has a sensitive hairline like mine. To be honest I had to cut my hair from all the frustration of the hair breaking, six months later I am in a hair rut. Trying to not cut it again, I am so emotional with my hair.

So I saw her very long hair, although not the same texture decided I try out Castor Oil regime. I was like what the heck Imma do it.

Previously I used Aloe Vera gel, and it worked well. So here is what I decided to get at Nu Fife Avenue Pharmacy Harare Zimbabwe.

Aloe Vera Gel – Lemex – $3.00

Castor Oil – Lemex – $5.00

Coconut Oil – Lemex – $4.00

This was my cheap-ish hair regime with available Zimbabwean products. I start with the Moisturiser Aloe Gel, then I rub a little bit of Castor Oil on the tail of a comb and put two drops and massage well. Then I put my fingers in Coconut Oil, and rub on top this is the sealer. I must say my hair feels soft and the pain from hairline breakage is being soothed.

For Aphro phro’s full hair manual click —-> Castor Oil.

Love your hair!

Rob.In

First Date: How to dress for a man

Before I knew how to dress for my shape and became a shopaholic, I never had dates. It is from dressing badly at dates that trained me how to dress for a date with a guy for the first time, a first date.

First thing you must not do is to relax. Be afraid, be very afraid. We live in a superficial world; dressing well is a big deal! Let us face it, at the end of the date you want to earn yourself future dates. Future dates will secure you a chance to justify your shoe habit “I go out often” you say.

So on my first date I used the following rules. This was after my first impression was me in jeans and an X top and black platform shoes, guys dig a chick in heels, jeans and a top. So for the date, I wore something I already have. I chose to show no cleavage and opted for legs. It is a choice between the two, and I do not have much to show off in the cleavage area. I chose to wear shoes I have worn before and a vintage cute clutch. In fact the dress is a hand me down from my sister’s ex’s aunt. I decided to keep my hairstyle and style it, with a pink lip, dark eye and blush I was date-ready.

The date was a success I must say, the food was delicious. A date is really about the chemistry between two people. Dressing up will just help you feel confident, that is only the first step to getting that man.

Date shoes, I avoided platforms this time round

The pre-date assemblage of the clothes

 

 

 

I did not carry a camera to the date, I mean whatever you do, do not carry a camera. It is all too creepy for words, you will not get a second date, guaranteed. So I took a photo before I left.

Ready to go-go-go

 

And the make-up

Fresh face make-up check 🙂 ready to go!!

Xxx

Robin

Weave: My weave in 2011

I got braids last year and I loved them, but my favourite has to have been my 100% weave from Ebony. Serum is needed to maintain it and brushing everyday.

Box Braids

I did long box braids in December last year and they were heavy but really lovely in my opinion.

Weave; Ciara

This is an example of a possible winter hairstyle, with Ciara in a full head weave that needs to be done right to protect your hair. One can have microbraids in the front and weave at the back